In my regular reading through the Psalms I came to this in Psalm 66:10

For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver.

In the notes of my digital Bible I wrote a note about 4 years ago:

TO THE REMNANT: The Lord is testing his remnant in the culturalized muck and mire of American Christianity. That which does not belong is being burned off. It is UGLY. Persevere. As the Remnant, we are still being “blamed” just for following Jesus because the dross that is being burned off says THEY follow Jesus, too.

We are being brought through the fire and water, as ugly as this period of time is in our history. It is necessary. He will bring us to a place of FREEDOM.

I wish the news was better. It’s not. We’re as deaf as ever in the conservative white Church. Yet… this is the work of God.

Our Gospel reading for the Second Sunday of Lent is a heart cry to the house of Israel to please listen and respond! Jesus cried out to the last moment, offering hope for Israel to not miss what the Kingdom of God was doing.

The Remnant will respond. It is never about big numbers. It is about faithfulness. May the Remnant stay faithful to the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ.